How to say “sorry to bother you” professionally

Short answer: say “Could I get your take on something? It'll take five minutes.”

DON'T SAY
“Sorry to bother you, I know you're super busy…”
SAY THIS
“Could I get your take on something? It'll take five minutes.”
It respects their time without apologizing for asking.

When to use it

Use it when you need a few minutes of someone's time and know they're busy. Asking for their take is respectful, and saying how long it will take lets them say yes or suggest a better time. You don't need to apologize for a normal work request.

Example

You: “Could I get your take on something? It'll take five minutes.”

Senior colleague: “Sure, I have time after this call.”

In an email or Slack message

In Slack or email, skip the apology and include the question: “Could I get your take on the pricing slide? It's a 5-minute read: [link]. Any time today works.” People answer faster when they know the ask.

Quick drill

When a skill gap comes up, like spreadsheets, public speaking or a new tool.

Which sounds more confident?

Practice 10 more →

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